This would be a much-needed boost for Kildare.
Kevin Feely was one of the best players on the park – in sky blue or white – as Kildare fell short against Dublin in the Leinster final.
The Athy club man claimed three marks and made five other high fields in a superb, athletic display for the Lilywhites. He proved too much for Brian Fenton to handle and put it up to both James McCarthy and Philly McMahon when they took up the challenge.
How Jack McCaffrey man was nominated for man-of-the-match ahead of this man is a farce https://t.co/pw4iGNhaVk
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 17, 2017
His fine performance was ended prematurely, 64 minutes in, when he was black-carded for impeding Jack McCaffrey on an up-field dart. It was a rough call but he left the field of play without much protest.
The black card was his third such offence of the year – the others were against Cork and Clare. As a consequence, he will miss Kildare’s ‘Last 12’ qualifier clash against Armagh, on July 29. That is, if Kildare opt out of appealing.
With the referee’s report now with the GAA, Kildare should receive official notice of Feely’s suspension later today. Once they do, they can immediately set in motion their appeal.
And, because of a rule amendment stemming from last year’s GAA Congress, Feely can now appeal each and every one of those black cards. The change was made to prevent a back-log of appeals.
That means Feely, and Kildare, could now request those black cards – against Cork, Clare and Dublin – to be reviewed. Should any of the three be turned over, the 24-year-old will be free to face The Orchard County in Croke Park at the end of this month.
